Gas-producer.



No. 788,378. PATENTED APR. 25, 1905.

J. REULEAUX.

, GAS PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Vitweoow 66686 43143 No. 788.378. v PATENTED APR. 25, 1905. J. REULEAUX.GAS PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1904.

2 SHEETS.SHEET 2.

e I PeuLe M l/vdilmoaea f UNITED STATES Patented April 25, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

J OSEF REULEAUX, OF \VILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ALEXANDERLAUGHLIN, OF SEWVICKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAS-PRODUCER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,378, dated April25, 1905.

Application filed September 21, 1904. Serial No. 225,394.

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Be it known that I, JosEE REULEAUX, of IVilkinsburg, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Gas-Producers; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to what are termed suction gas-producers, whereinthe air for combustion is drawn in by an exhauster or the aspiratoryaction of a gas-engine connected with the producer. It is of vitalimportance in this class of producers that all air be excluded otherthan that required for combustion purposes, since otherwise more or lessserious explosions will occur upon fresh air intermingling directly withthe produced gases.

The primary object of my invention is therefore to provide improvedmeans for preventing air from directly intermingling with the producedgases when the necessary openings are made for charging, breaking upclinkers in the ashes, or in the removal of the latter.

A further object is to prevent unequal combustion of the fuel byintroducing all the air aspirated for the combustion to the very centerof the fire-bed, thus maintaining the full capacity of theheating-surface of the producer and insuring the production of a richquality of gas; and further objects are to provide means whereby theoperation of the producer will in no way be interfered with orinterrupted while charging it with fuel or removing ashes, to guardagainst the destruction of the parts subjected to the highest heat, tomix the aspirated air with steam generated from the water by which partsare cooled, to thoroughly heat the air before it reaches the ire-bed,and to provide for the direct escape of smoke, &c., in starting theproducer.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsectional view of a gas-producer constructed in accordance with myinvention, fuel being indicated on but one side. Figs. 2 and 3 arehorizontal sectional views on lines 2 2 and 3 3, respectively, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a gas-producer the ash-hopper ofwhich projects into a water-seal bottom 2, wherein is located a pusher 3for forcing the ashes from beneath the hopper and out over the inclinedbottom 4, such pusher being constructed in accordance with the inventionpatented to me by Letters Patent of the United States No. 726,757, datedApril 28, 1903. I have shown a screw-rod 5 connected by gearing 6 ingthe pusher.

In the center 'of the generator immediately above the ash-hopper is anair-distributer in the form of a dome-like casing 8, connected by aseries of lateral branches 9 with an annular air-heating chamber 10 inthe wall of the producer. This chamber is equipped with lateralextensions 12, wherein and in the easing and the branches 9 water isdesigned to circulate, all surplus water overflowing walls 13 over thelower portions of the inner ends of the branches falling into the bed ofashes and the water-holding bottom 2. Extending through the air heatingchamber 1O are clinker openings 13. Any air admitted through theseopenings in the breaking up of the clinkers must necessarily travelthrough the fuel-bed before intermingling with the produced gases, suchopenings being within the lines of combustion.

14 14 designate two air-admission valves sealed at their lower ends bythe water Within the laterals 12, the airbeing drawn longitudinallythrough such valves by the aspiratory action of an engine or exhauster.are movable longitudinally in an upper exterior water seal 15 of thecasings of the laterals, and the extentof their penetration into thewater may be regulated by set-screw 16. In starting, these valves arelifted out of the water. Not only does the water serve to cool the air-distributer casing, branches 9, and heating-chamber 10, but the steamgenerated therefrom saturates the air heated by the same The valves tothe shaft of a hand-wheel 7 for manipulatsource, and thereby addsmaterially to the efficency of the producer. The air upon leaving theopen bottom of the dome-like casing Will pass upwardly uniformly atevery point through the bed of ashes and the incandescent fuel withinthe producer, and thegas will be drawn out through outlet 16 by thesuction of an engine or exhauster.

17 designates a fuel-supply casing extending downwardly through thearched top of the producer and preferably fitted in a water seal at 18on the top of the latter. The length of this casing relative to theheight of the incandescent fuel within the producer is about two to one,as shown by the spaces defined by lines I and II. At its upper end thiscasing is provided with a water-sealed lid or lids 18. EX- tendingcentrally through the casing and beyond the top thereof is an air-flue19, which at its lower end opens into the top of the airdistributer 8.Its lower portion is exteriorly protected by fire-brick 20 to a pointabove the line at which the fuel is incandescent. In this flue near theupper end of the supply-casing is formed a series of openings 21, whichopen upwardly thercinto, thus establishing communication between thecasing 17 and the fine. Also opening into this flue at a pointapproximately midway the length of the chargingcasing is an air-supplypipe 22, the admission of air to which is controlled by a dip-valve 23,sealed at its lower end by water within a tank 24, mounted on the top ofthe producer, the dip-valve itself having an outer water seal 25. It,like valves 14, is adjustable, aset-screw 26 being shown for thepurpose. Air is drawn through the dip-valve 23 at each aspiratory actionof the engine and in passing through the central flue serves to cool thelatter and at the same time entrains any air that may be within the topof the supply-casing when the lid thereof is opened, such air beingdrawn through openings 21. In this way the air entering the casing inthe charging thereof with fuel is prevented from directly interminglingwith the produced gases, which inter-mingling would result in anexplosion. It is evident that the length of the charging-casing must bein excess of the height of the fire-bed, since otherwise the airentering at the top of the casing would follow the vacuum and take itsshortest course downward through the fuelsu pply and into the upper partof the producer proper and there mingle with and consume the gasescoming from the fire-bed. This is successfully avoided by having the airin the top of the casing pass through the central draft-tube and theninto the fire-bed. Furthermore, by reason of this very communication theweighted lid 2'7 on the top of the central tube will act as asafety-valve for the escape of surplus gases when the engine stops orthe suction ceases. Then, too, the flue acts as a stack in starting theproducer, and until the fire-bed has reached an incandescent state andeverything is in condition to produce gases of the proper quality. Forthis purpose I provide the flue with a damper 28 beneath the openings21. The gases forming in the upper part of the fuel-casing will, bytheir own expansion and by the suction of the engine, pass downwardthrough the central flue and thence to the point of combustion in thefirebed and being hydrocarbons will be burned and decomposed, thusavoiding any tarry condensations, While like gases forming in the lowerpart of the fuel-casing press themselves through the upper incandescentfuel at the lower end of the fuel-supply casing and intermingle with thebulk of the gases.

Preferably the air-admission valves of the annular chamber 10 arepositioned intermediate the several branches 9 in order to get plenty ofair circulation within the annular chamber, the branches, and thecentral distributer. The water is always maintained at a uniform level,all surplus overflowing into the Water-sealed bottom. This water bysealing the lower ends of valves 14: prevents any back pressure when theengine ceases to work, escape therefor being provided by the automaticopen-ing of lid 27 of the central drafttube.

The advantages of my invention are apparent. It will be seen thatprovision has been successfully made for guarding against the admissionof air to the producer except for combustion purposes. Whatever air isadmitted to the producer, either through the charging-casing or theclinker-openings or in the removal of ashes, must pass through the bedof incandescent fuel before intermingling with the produced gases,thereby avoiding any direct intermixture therewith liable to result in amore or less serious explosion.

I claim as my invention- 1. A gas-producer having an air-distributorlocated centrally of the fire-bed, an air-heating chamber surroundingthe producer, and a series of lateral branches connecting the chamberand the distributer, said chamber and branches being constructed so asto contain a body of water.

2. A gas-prod ucer having an air-distributer located centrally of thefire-bed, an air-heating chamber surrounding the prod ucer,a series oflateral branches connecting the chamber and distributer, said chamberand branches being constructed so as to contain abody of water, andmeans for controlling the admission of air to the chamber, such meansbeing sealed by the water.

3. A gas-producer having an air-distributer located centrally of thefire-bed, an air-heating chamber surrounding the producer, a series oflateral branches connecting the chamber and distributer, said chamberand branches being constructed so as to contain a body of water, andvalves sealed by such water and through which the air is drawn to thedistributer by the aspiratory action of an engine or exhauster.

4. A gas-producer having an air-distributer located centrally of thefire-bed, an air-heatin g chamber surrounding the producer, a series oflateral branches connecting the chamber and distributer, said chamberand branches being constructed so as to contain a body of water, valvessealed by such water and through which the air is drawn to thedistributer by the aspiratory action of an engine or an exhauster, andmeans for regulating the extent of the penetration of the valves intothe water.

5. A gas-producer having an air-distributer closed at the top and openat its bottom and located centrally of the fire-bed, an air-heatingchamber surrounding the producer, a series of lateral branches leadingfrom the chamber and opening into the distributer above the lower endthereof, and means for controlling the admission of air to the chamber.

6. A gas-producer having a dome-shape airdistributer located centrallyof the fire-bed, an air-heating chamber surrounding the produccr, aseries of lateral branches, connecting the chamber and the distributer,having walls over portions of their inner ends, said chamher andbranches being constructed so as to contain a body of water, andair-inlet valves sealed by such water and through which air is drawn bythe aspiratory action of an engine or exhauster.

7. A gas-producer having an air-distributer located centrally of thefire-bed, a series of airpassages opening into said distributer andextending radially therefrom, and an air-flue opening into saiddistributer and extended downwardly through the fire-bed, means foradmitting air to said flue, and means for admitting air to saidpassages.

8. A gas-producer having an air-distributer located centrally of thefire-bed, a series of airpassages opening into said distributer andextending radially therefrom, and an air-flue opening into saiddistributer and communicating with the fuel-space of the producer somedistance above the line of combustion.

9. A gas-producer having an air-distributer located centrally of thefire-bed, a series of airpassages opening into said distributer andextending radially therefrom, and an air-flue opening into saiddistributer and extended downwardly through the fire-bed andcommunicating with the fuel-space of the producer above the line ofcombustion, means for admitting air to said flue beneath the point ofits communication with the fuel-space, and means for admitting air tosaid passages.

10. A gas-prod ucer having a dome-shape air-distributer locatedcentrally of the fire-bed, an air-flue opening into said distributer andextended downwardly through the fire-bed, an air-supply pipe openinginto said flue at a point above the fire-bed, and a water-sealed valvethrough which the air is drawn to said tributer, and Water-sealed valvesfor controlv ling the admission of air to said chamber.

12. A gas-producer having a fuel supply casing extending u pwardly somedistance from the line of combustion, an air-flue extended centrallythrough said casing and opening beneath the fire-bed, openings beingformed in said flue near the upper end of the fuel-supply casing, andmeans for closing the upper end of said flue designed to beautomatically opened to allow of the escape of surplus gases.

13. The herein-described gas-producer having a centrally-arrangedair-distribu ter, means for supplying preheated and saturated airthereto, a fuel-supply casing extending some distance upwardly from theline of combustion, an air-flue extending downwardly through said casingand fire-bed and opening into said distributer, and means forcontrolling the admission of air to said flue.

14. The herein-described gas-producer having a centrally-arrangedair-distributer, a water-containing chamber having a series ofairpassages opening into said distributer, valves sealed by such waterand through which air is drawn to the distributer, a fuel-supply casingextended upwardly some distance beyond the line of combustion, anair-flue extended centrally through said casing and the fire-bed andopening at its lower end into said air-distributer, said flue having aseries of openings into the casing at the upper end thereof, anair-supply pipe opening into said flue, and a water-sealed valve throughwhich air is drawn to the flue.

15. The combination with a gas-producer having a centrally arranged domeshape airdistributer, of an air-heating chamber surround-ing saidcasing, a series of lateral branches connecting the chamber -to thedistributer, and a series of water-sealed valves controlling theadmission of air to said chamber, water being designed to circulate inthe latter-as well as in said branches, as set forth.

16. The combination with a gas-producer having a w ater-sealed bottom,of adome-shape air-distributer located centrally of the fire-bed abovesaid bottom, an air-heating chamber surrounding said producer, a seriesof lateral branches connecting the chamber and the distributer andhaving walls over the lower portions of their inner ends, water beingdesigned to circulate in said chamber and branches, the overflow thereoffalling from the distributer IOO In testimony whereof I have signed thisspecification in the presence of two subsorib- 10 mg witnesses.

J OSEF REULEAUX.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS S. MAGUIRE, GEO. W. RIGHTMIRE.

